Photos: Richters.com
The company behind the SeedZoo for rare species offers a range of services, including replacing lawns with edible plants.
I recently learned that in addition to Norway’s Seed Vault, where 400,000-plus seeds are (we hope) safe from global warming and other disasters, there is also a seed bank that individuals around the world can contribute to.
It’s the SeedZoo at a company called Richters. And depending on the level of your concern about invasive species, you can buy unusual seeds there or contribute your own.
From the website: “Richters is proud to introduce SeedZoo™, a project to preserve traditional and indigenous food plants from around the world. Teaming up with botanical explorers and ethnobotanists, we are searching for rare and endangered food plants that home gardeners can grow and enjoy, and help to preserve.
“Of the 7,000 or so species of food plants known to man, only 140 are cultivated commercially, and of those, most of the world’s supply of food depends on just 12.
Even as the world increasingly speaks about food security, incredible varieties that are known only to a single tribe or in small and remote localities are being lost forever.
“We sent plant explorers across the world in search of rare beans, squashes, melons, greens, and grains. They have been to the jungles of Borneo, to small farms in Japan and Italy, and to the bustling food markets of Africa. In the coming months they will visit India, Vietnam and beyond. Many of the rare and exotic plants that they bring back don’t even have names and can only be called landraces — plants with unique features found in only one region or sometimes in just one village.
“Often our explorers can bring back only a handful of seeds, sometimes fewer than 100. Because these seeds are so rare and from such remote regions of the world, they are sold on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Once they sell out they may never be available again. …
“Join us in this grand project to preserve a part of the world’s food diversity. Try some of the planet’s treasures, and enjoy the culinary adventure. And please save some seeds and share them with your friends.”
Let me give you an example from the Richters website. How do you like the idea of the Kyrgyzstan Banane Melon?
Richters calls it a “gorgeous casaba type melon from southern Kyrgyzstan near the city of Osh. It is one of many local variations of melons found throughout central Asia. The yellow fruits have a creamy white flesh that is very sweet and delicious. It should be as easy to cultivate as other melons. Assume about 100-110 days to maturity. Will likely do best in warmer slightly drier areas. Fruit sweetness is enhanced when there is not too much water available. Fruits are picked when mature and deep yellow, and the stem begins to dry up. They are usually eaten fresh but the flesh is also dried as and used in the winter.”
I’m worried what Jean will say about this idea, but I’m pretty sure Jill will be up for it.
More here.
The Kyrgyzstan Banane Melon, with an admirer.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
I watched a documentary recently about the seed vault and found it so interesting! The SeedZoo is a great idea, too!
I hope that part of Norway never thaws.
We need to preserve and protect diversity in *all* our world–flora, fauna, culture, language, all of it!
I do have a concern about planting seeds in new regions. Saving seeds, yes, but it would be a different problem if they crowded out native plants.
Never heard of SeedZoo. Yet again, thanks to you, I learned something new. (My favorite, so far, has been about the hobby-horse competition in Finland, right down to the doc about it.)
What impressed me in that story was how the girls couldn’t care less about what outsiders thought.